Display stand

ABSTRACT

A display and storage stand for displaying and storing merchandise in a retail store location, including at least one stationary display shelf for merchandise to be displayed at an advantageous height for customer access, at least one slidably movable lower storage shelf underneath and immediately adjacent to the stationary display shelf for storing additional merchandise is located in a convenient location for a stock clerk to have ready access to replenish the merchandise sold from the display shelf and a positioning locking mechanism in the slidably movable lower storage shelf that locks said lower storage shelf in position to prevent a loaded lower storage shelf from tipping over the display and storage stand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Ser. No. 62/271,427 filed on Dec. 28, 2015.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS WEB)

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINTINVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to merchandise display stands, and moreparticularly, this invention relates to an easy to replenish display andstorage stand for store merchandise displays.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventional means for displaying merchandise for sale have includedstacking of merchandise boxes in stores and cutting the top off of theuppermost merchandise box in the stack to act as a display box.Alternatively, other means have included display trays for holdingmerchandise.

However, practitioners of that method have become aware of certainproblems which are presented by those prior art methods. One particularproblem that has plagued sellers has been that restocking of popularselling merchandise that sells quickly has been burdensome and unwieldy.In order to replenish the available merchandise, stock clerks have totravel to the stock room, load up with new merchandise, and then bringit back to the display area. Since there is usually no readily availablestorage for replenishing stock, this situation creates inefficiency andrequires more hours per day traveling back and forth to the stock room.

It would be desirable to the merchandise distribution industry for acustomized display and storage stand that will allow for easy restockingwithout any undue physical requirements by stock room clerks andsalespeople. Safety concerns are also needing to be address, as many ofthe unopened merchandise boxes are quite heavy, some are so heavy thatit creates physical requirements not capable by all workers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the above-noted desires of the industry, the presentinvention provides various aspects, including a display stand forstorage and display of at least two boxes of merchandise for ease ofrestocking. Although the present invention includes the display, storageand easy capability of restocking of all merchandise included within itsscope, it is most advantageous for heavy items such as bottles, cans andthe like. Because it is well known that merchandise is most easily soldwhen the merchandise is more or less displayed at eye level, or at thevery least at an easy to reach height, that merchandise sells quicklyand needs to be replenished frequently. When the merchandise needs to bereplenished, stock clerks would find an advantage if the merchandise tobe replenished would be conveniently located at the site of display,rather than having to go back into the stockroom each time to bring thenew merchandise back out onto the showroom floor. It would beaesthetically pleasing if the boxes of the new merchandise would bestored in an attractive storage area underneath the display shelf.

The present invention is especially helpful for heavy items, such asbottled liquids, cans of soup, dog food, carbonated drinks, and highdensity solid foods, such as candy. These items sell especially fast,and the display for this type of merchandise must be replenished on anearly hourly basis, necessitating a lot of stock room visits. With thepresent invention having on-site storage, a single stock room trip cancarry enough replenishing stock to last all day or longer.

In that regard, and realizing that any type of boxed merchandise, asdiscussed hereinabove, is within the scope of the invention, the presentdisplay stand will be described mostly in terms of the display andstorage of wine boxes being displayed and stored, as they are especiallyheavy. Wine boxes are usually about 14 inches tall for a standard winebottle, and they usually contain a case of wine with 12 bottles in eachbox. Trying to catch the eye of a customer, a most advantageous heightfor its display is from 28 inches high to about 48 inches high. Becausea store keeper would not want to wait until the display box is entirelyempty before opening the storage box immediately underneath, as this cancurtail customer appeal and consequent sales, replenishing creates aproblem. The problem is that now a stock clerk has a display box withdiminishing numbers of wine bottles in the uppermost display box. Tokeep the display box looking nearly full, the store keeper will want tokeep it replenished. The store keeper tells his stock clerk to lift upthe display box, put it somewhere nearby so that the stock clerk canopen the unopened box to take some bottles out to replenish the upperdisplay box. Now there's a new problem. Now we have a partially fullstorage box that will be partially crushed by the weight of the now fulldisplay box, causing instability. This can cause the entire display tofall over, which clearly is undesirable. The present invention solvesthis problem by providing a rigid support of the display and storagestand. By partially emptying the storage box, the display box stayssecurely on top of the display stand, without any chance of tippingover.

These wine boxes in my display stand can most advantageously have one ormore sliding shelves for replenishing stock with locking or securementdevices to prevent tipping over of the display stand when a full tray ofwine is pulled out, ready for restocking.

A first aspect of the present invention includes certain featuresincluding a multi-level display stand with the top level being an opendisplay so that wine purchasers can readily access the bottles forpurchase. Thereunder, there is at least one pull-out tray for storing atleast one unopened box of wine bottles, which is readily accessible foreasy restocking of the emptying open upper display box.

In practice, boxes of wine are stacked on one another to raise thedisplay box to a desirable height for customer convenience. As thenumber of wine bottles from the display box are purchased, the supply ofwine bottles in the open display box on the top level dwindles, and willneed restocking. In the prior art methods, where the wine boxes aremerely stacked one on top of the other, wine bottles from the lowestlevel may need to be accessed, causing the personnel of the wine shop tohave to lift numerous boxes in order to access the lowest level forrestocking.

In the present invention, a wine shop employee can roll out the trayholding the new wine bottles and stand next to the open tray and liftthe bottles back up into the upper display box to replenish the displaybox.

Numerous aspects of this invention are envisioned by the presentinventor, with numerous configurations of locking devices to hold therolling tray in place to prevent accidents, and the like.

Although the invention will be described by way of examples hereinbelowfor specific aspects having certain features, it must also be realizedthat minor modifications that do not require undo experimentation on thepart of the practitioner are covered within the scope and breadth ofthis invention. Additional advantages and other novel features of thepresent invention will be set forth in the description that follows andin particular will be apparent to those skilled in the art uponexamination or may be learned within the practice of the invention.Therefore, the invention is capable of many other different aspects andits details are capable of modifications of various aspects which willbe obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art all without departingfrom the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the rest of thedescription will be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature and advantages of the expectedscope and various aspects of the present invention, reference shall bemade to the following detailed description, and when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts aregiven the same reference numerals, and wherein;

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my display box made in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevational view of a new aspect of my displaybox, made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a bottom-plan view of my display box made in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of my display box showing where guidewheels and locking tabs are located;

FIG. 5A and 5B both show a side elevational view of two differentaspects of my display box made in accordance with the present invention

FIG. 6 is a perspective elevational view of a single unit;

FIG. 7 is the single unit of FIG. 6 illustrating the sliding storageshelf in a slid out configuration;

FIG. 8 shows the sliding storage unit with the lock points for thelocking mechanism;

FIG. 9 shows an elongated slide-out storage shelf;

FIG. 10 shows a multi-level display and storage stand;

FIG. 11 shows a multi-level display with a single slide-out elongatedstorage shelf;

FIG. 12 shows a quadruple display stand with three slide-out storageshelves;

FIG. 13 shows another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows yet another aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 15 shows canned goods in the display and storage stand with aslide-out storage compartment;

FIG. 16A is a perspective elevational view of a storage compartment; and

FIG. 16 B is a close-up of toggle-type mechanism.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWINGS  10. Display Stand 12. Open Top  14. Pull-out Tray  16. Rigid Side Members  18. Upper WineBox  20. Wine Bottle  22. Lower Wine Box  24. Display Wine Box  26.Permanently Affixed Shelf  30. Floor Rollers  40. Display Stand  42.Upper Display Area  44. Intermediate Display Area  46. Lower DisplayArea  48. Telescoping Sliding Base  50. Display Stand  52. Slide Frame 54. Slide Tray  56. Floor Rollers  58. Frame Rollers  60. Locking Tab 66. Wine Box  68. Rolling Shelf  70. Display Stand  72. Guide Wheels 74. Locking Tabs  80. Slide Frame  82. Hooking Tab  84. Display StandTube  86. Recess  90. Single Unit  92. Single Box  94. Wine Bottles  96.Storage Compartment  98. Front Face 100. Tray 102. Sliding Mechanism104. Rollers 106. Positioning Indents 110. Locking Storage Compartment112. Toggle Lock 114. Sliding Member 116. Vertical Support Post 118.Positioning Rivet 120. Sliding Compartment 122. Sliding Tray Side 124.Storage Compartment 126. Horizontal Support Member 128. HorizontallyOriented Upper Flat Surface

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 is a perspective view ofa display stand made in accordance with the present invention, generallydenoted by numeral 10, including a cage-like display stand 12 having alower pull-out tray 14. Pull-out tray 14 is encased within four rigidside members 16, supporting therein an upper wine box 18 for display anda lower storage wine box 22 containing wine bottles 20. Permanentlyaffixed shelf 26 is attached to the four side rigid side members 16 andin a position that will support and display a conventionally sizeddisplay wine box 24. Pull-out tray 14 has affixed thereto some floorrollers for supporting the wine boxes being stored thereon, so that theweight of the wine boxes on the pull-out tray 14 does not tip over theentire display stand when it is extended. Further aspects will bedescribed more fully hereinbelow.

FIG. 2 illustrates yet another aspect of the present invention includinga display box generally denoted by numeral 40 including an upper displayarea 42, an intermediate display area 44, and a lower display area 46.Each of these is supported in a telescoping fashion on top oftelescoping sliding base 48 and may be retracted into a nestingarrangement while supporting storage boxes of wine on the intermediateand lower display areas 44 and 46, respectively. The telescoping slidingbase 48 will retract so that it is supporting all of the display areasfrom beneath.

FIG. 3 is a bottom-plan view of the display stand of FIG. 1, showing therelative placement of the elements of a display stand generally denotedby the numeral 50, including a slide frame 52 with a slide tray 54having floor rollers 56 integral therewith. Slide tray 54 is kept on atrack by frame rollers 58 which are engaged in place by locking tabs 60,described below with reference to FIGS. 4, 5A, and 5B.

FIG. 4 shows relative placement of wine box 66 on top of rolling shelf68. Guide wheels 72 are attached underneath rolling shelf 68 withindisplay stand 70. Locking tabs 74 secure the rolling shelf 68 so that itdoes not roll away.

Looking next to FIGS. 5A and 5B, more careful detail is shown of lockingtabs 82 attached to rolling shelf 80. Recesses 86 in display stand tube84 are adapted to receive locking tab 82 when it is in its downwardorientation. When the tray is to be moved, locking tabs 82 must beplaced into the unsecured position to allow rolling tray 80 to be moved.

FIG. 6 illustrates a single unit generally denoted by 90 having a singlebox 92 on the horizontal upper surface with a single storage compartmentunderneath. Single display box 92 being the original merchandising boxwith wine bottles therein showing advertising space on the side of thebox. Box 92 is cut out on its front to display wine bottles 94 ready tobe purchased by a customer. Box 92 is shown with some of the bottlesalready purchased. Underneath box 92 is a storage compartment 96 havinga front face 98 with a hand cut-out to facilitate pulling out a tray100. Sliding mechanism 102 permits easy sliding by pulling on front face98, such that wine bottles within tray 100 (not shown) so that we cansee the tray 100.

FIG. 7 shows the single unit 90 of FIG. 6 with its tray 100 pulled outto reveal the storage contents sliding mechanism 102 shows tracks forrollers 104. As can be seen from this view, wine display box 92 remainsin position, ready to be replenished by the contents of tray 100.

FIG. 8 shows the sliding mechanism 102 of storage compartment 96. Tray100 with rollers 104 are viewed in its original position within storagecompartment 96.

FIG. 9 shows a single storage compartment 96 with its tray 100 pulledout by front face 98 on rollers 104. Positioning indents 106 areillustrated on the top of the storage box 96 ready to receive anotherstorage box thereon. Positioning indents 106 prevent the storage boxbeing placed thereon from sliding out of position.

With combined reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 there is shown variations ofmultiple storage units under display box 92. In these aspects, multipledisplay areas for display box 92 are shown with wine bottles 94 sellingdifferent brands or types of wine. FIG. 10 shows a slide-out tray 100behind the second tier of display area. In the lowest storagecompartment, an elongated tray 100 is easily pulled out by pulling onfront face 98, while FIG. 11 shows a triple tier of display areas formultiple brands or types of wine in their original storage box 92.

FIG. 12 is yet another variation where the display boxes 92 aredisplayed on multiple levels with storage compartment 96 behind thedisplay areas. Trays 100 may be slid out to retrieve content within thestorage compartment 96.

FIG. 13 shows yet another aspect of the present invention with multipledisplay box configurations, as is common in a wine shop. Customers canwalk up to the ninety-degree angle display stand and make a selectionamongst the various contents of the display boxes 92. Such aconfiguration is appealing to customers and may be placed in the cornerof the wine store to minimize footprint within the retail operation.Slide-out storage compartments 96 are shown with rollers 104 attached tothe bottom of tray 100 for ease of access to replenish the contents 94of the display boxes 92.

FIG. 14 shows merchandise 91 within display box 92 that is boxed insteadof wine bottles, such as boxed tissues or candy or any other boxedmerchandise. Storage compartment 96 holds additional boxed merchandise91 ready to be slid out by front face 98 for ready access to replenishdisplay box 92.

FIG. 15 shows a final aspect of the present invention with canned goods93 in display box 92 on top of storage compartment 96 having a slide-outtray 100 and concealed by front face 98.

With combined reference to FIGS. 16A and 16B, a locking storagecompartment generally denoted by 110 includes a toggle lock 112 with asliding member 114 in communication with a vertical support post 116. Apositioning rivet 118 holds the vertical support post 116 in placerelative to sliding compartments 120. Sliding tray side 122 being heldin place within storage compartment 124. A horizontal support member 126delineates separate storage compartments 124. A horizontally orientedupper flat surface 128 acts as the display area for products being sold.As toggle lock 112 is slid in and out of the storage compartment, itactivates the sliding member 114 to secure the sliding compartment inplace, thereby preventing multiple storage compartments 120 from slidingout at the same time, so that the storage compartment will not becometop-heavy and tip over.

In summary, numerous benefits have been described which result fromemploying any or all of the concepts and the features of the variousspecific aspects of the present invention, or those that are within thescope of the invention. The display stand acts to provide a new, novel,and non-obvious display stand for storing and displaying wine bottles inan attractive, economical, and unburdensome manner.

The foregoing description of a preferred aspect of the invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light ofthe above teachings with regards to the specific aspects. The aspect waschosen and described in order to best illustrate the principles of theinvention and its practical applications to thereby enable one ofordinary skill in the art to best utilize the invention in variousaspects and with various modifications as are suited to the particularuse contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention bedefined by the claims which are appended hereto.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display and storage stand for displaying andstoring merchandise in a retail store location, comprising: at least onestationary display shelf for merchandise to be displayed at anadvantageous height for customer access; at least one slidably movablelower storage shelf underneath and immediately adjacent to thestationary display shelf for storing additional merchandise is locatedin a convenient location for a stock clerk to have ready access toreplenish the merchandise sold from the display shelf; and a positioninglocking mechanism in the slidably movable lower storage shelf that lockssaid lower storage shelf in position to prevent a loaded lower storageshelf from tipping over the display and storage stand.
 2. The displayand storage stand of claim 1, wherein the stationary display shelffurther includes a merchandise securement device for preventingmerchandise from slipping off the display shelf.
 3. The display andstorage stand of claim 1, wherein said at least one stationary displayshelf includes two or more display shelves at a 90° angle to one anotherfor displaying merchandise.
 4. The display and storage stand of claim 1,wherein said at least one slidably movable lower storage shelfunderneath and immediately adjacent to the stationary display shelfincludes rollers for carrying the weight of the merchandise being storedthereon, so that the lower storage shelf can be slid more easily.
 5. Thedisplay and storage stand of claim 1, wherein said at least one slidablymovable lower storage shelf underneath and immediately adjacent to thestationary display shelf includes multi-level slidably movable stackedshelves to hold merchandise for replenishing the display shelf.
 6. Thedisplay and storage stand of claim 1, wherein said positioning lockingmechanism in the slidably movable lower storage shelf that locks saidlower storage shelf in position includes a toggle locking mechanism thatis in communication with the display and storage stand such that whenthe slidably movable lower storage shelf is slid out to access thestored merchandise, the toggle lock prevents additional shelves frombeing able to be slid out, whereby a shift of weight of the contents ofthe display and storage stand is unbalanced and susceptible to beingtipped over.